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Parents protest at Soweto school over alleged rape of pupil

Published

Parents disrupted lessons at Busisiwe Primary School on Tuesday and picketed outside on Wednesday. They accuse the school of failing to act after a teacher was accused of raping a nine-year-old girl. Police have opened a case.

The girl's aunt said the child asked to go to the toilet during a class and was raped there by her teacher. The aunt said the girl told her family on 9 October and last went to school on 8 October. She said the teacher keeps coming to school.

The family said the school told them the child's claim did not make sense. They said the chairperson of the school governing body told them parents only learnt of the matter on Monday afternoon.

Parent Phumzile Gumede spoke outside the school on Wednesday. She said the teacher was sent home but not suspended or arrested. The Gauteng Department of Education visited the school on Wednesday and had said it would issue a statement.

Brig Lefa Tsotetsi, the Jabulani police station commander, spoke to parents after a case was opened. He said police should communicate only with the complainant, who chooses whether to speak.

Key facts

Who
Lefa Tsotetsi (Jabulani police station commander, Brig); Busisiwe Primary School (school where the alleged rape involved a teacher and pupil); Gauteng department of education (said it would issue a statement on the matter); Phumzile Gumede (parent speaking to Eyewitness News)
What
A nine-year-old girl has allegedly been raped by her teacher in Soweto and has not attended school for almost two weeks while the teacher continues to teach. Frustrated parents disrupted lessons at Busisiwe Primary School on Tuesday over the school's response; police have opened a case.
When
20 October 2026
Where
Soweto, Jabulani
Status
Reported

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